He finished his college career with school records for receptions (268) and receiving yards (3,001). He was the first player in school history to top 100 receptions in a season (101 as a senior) and the second player to gain over 6,000 career all-purpose yards (6,380). He is second in school history with 102 kickoff returns for 2,374 yards.[7]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Harris was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.[8] In his first career pre-season appearance, he had a great performance against the Denver Broncos, recording five receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns (including a 76-yard touchdown reception), in just two quarters of work. Unfortunately his first year was mostly a disappointment, with the Cowboys releasing him on October 18 and signing him to their practice squad. He eventually was signed back to the active roster on December 14. As a rookie, he appeared in just seven games, returning 15 punts for 80 yards.[9]

In 2014, he led the team with 18 special teams tackles, but all of his other stats dropped off from the previous year. The team struggled in the return game and he was rarely targeted as the fourth wide receiver.[20]

Harris left as the franchise's all-time leader on kickoff returns with a 26.5-yard career average and a single-season 30.6-yard average in 2013. He finished tied for second with an 11.1-yard career punt return average. He is considered to be one of the best special teams players in Dallas Cowboys history.[21]

New York Giants

On March 10, 2015, he signed a five-year, $17 million contract with the New York Giants as an unrestricted free agent. The deal included $7.1 million guaranteed with a $4 million signing bonus.[22][23] Although he was acquired to serve primarily as a return man on special teams, he passed Preston Parker on the depth chart as the slot wide receiver, before injuries to the receivers corp forced him to start six games during the season. Against the Buffalo Bills he recorded five receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown.[24] In the next contest, he had a career-high six receptions for 72 yards in a win over the San Francisco 49ers.[25]
On October 25, he returned a fourth quarter kickoff 100 yards (tied a team record) for the deciding touchdown against his former team, as the Giants defeated the Cowboys, 27-20.[26] For his efforts, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. On December 6, he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown in a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Jets, becoming the first player in franchise history to have a punt return, a kickoff return and a reception go for touchdowns in a single-season.[27][28] He recorded six receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown, in a loss against the New England Patriots.[29] He was declared inactive for the last game with a shoulder injury, finishing with career-highs in receptions (36), receiving yards (396) and receiving touchdowns (four).[30] He finished third in the league with a 28.7-yard kick return average and seventh with a 10.0-yard punt return average.

In 2016, at times he was taken off returns because of struggles with ball security and sometimes questionable decision-making. He still finished fifth in the league in kick return average (24.2 yards) and had a 5.9 yards punt return average. He posted 7 special teams tackles. He had one touchdown in his only reception of the season, that came in a week 12 win against the Cleveland Browns.[31] He was also named to his first Pro Bowl.[32]

On March 21, 2017, he restructured his contract after the Giants signed free agentwide receiverBrandon Marshall.[33] In Week 5 of the 2017 season, Harris suffered a foot fracture which required surgery, and was placed on injured reserve on October 9, 2017.[34] He appeared in five games and had nine kickoff returns for 188 net yards for a 20.88 average and seven punt returns for 48 net yards for a 6.86 average.[35]

Oakland Raiders

On April 2, 2018, Harris signed with the Oakland Raiders.[37] He was named the Raiders primary kick and punt returner to start the 2018 season. In Week 4, Harris returned five kicks for an average of 19.5 yards, including a 49-yard punt return in a 45-42 win over the Cleveland Browns, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[38] On December 24, he returned a punt 99 yards for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos, earning him another AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[39] The 99-yard return was the second longest punt return in NFL history.[40] He finished the season with 29 kickoff returns for 663 net yards for a 22.86 average to go along with 20 punt returns for 281 net yards for a 14.05 average.[41]